Anti terror law bill placed in Parliament

New Delhi, Dec.17 (ANI): The bill for introducing a stringent terror law and a plan for the setting up of a central investigation agency on the lines of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was placed in the Parliament on Wednesday. Union Home Minister P.Chidambaram tabled the National Investigating Agency (NIA) Bill and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendments Bills in the house, and opened the debate on the same. Chidambarm appealed to the members to pass the bills unanimously and promised to rectify defects in the legislation, if any, during the next session in February. “We will do our best to satisfy your aspirations. Let us pass these two bills,” he said adding the roots of terror funding have to be hit hard and this is a step towards it. He declared that the National Investigation Agency (NIA) will be under the jurisdiction of the Central Government and it would take-up probe from states only in special circumstances. Dealing with some of the provisions of the bill, he said notwithstanding the constitution of the NIA, it would still respect the State Government’’s right to investigate cases and would even associate them in such investigations. “We have struck a balance between right of the Central Government and the State Governments to decide on investigation, he added. The opposition supported the bills. Leader of the opposition L.K. Advani said: the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is with the government on any issue related to stringent law against terrorism. I ideologically support any law regarding curbs on terror, he added. Advani however suggested that the bill should go first to a Parliament Standing Committee. Condemning Pakistan, he said, Our neighbouring country is following a policy of proxy war after it failed in all the three wars earlier. Advani also criticised the UPA for he called its laid back attitude towards terrorism. UPA has accepted that they were wrong all these ten years, while opposing POTA, he said adding, UPA has woken up after a long sleep on terror. Terming the law as old wine in new bottle, Advani demanded more discussion on the bills. Is there a law, that has not been misused, asked Advani adding that the laws are against terrorism and not against minorities. (ANI)